The Misadventures of One Mixed-up Time Pony

Looks like this will be a battle between us, Professor Raven. I attempt to say grimly.

Raven teleports with an unknown passenger into the middle of a surreal blur. "Hello, Discord."

Discord spits out the chocolate milk glass he was drinking and stutters "I-I-ii know your voice"

"Yes, you do, but you have no name for me"

Raven is good at making things up, apparently. I suppose a couple decades gives him time to learn what he wants. "Then you should know that I am Raven, half of the Element of Entropy."

"Isn't entropy just chaos, though?"

"No, it is the chaos caused by the flow of time, constantly destroying and rebuilding in a never ending cycle." I have seen the Lord of Chaos before, but he has never appeared as frightened as he is now. Raven surveys the scene, "I do love what you've done with the place, though. It looks like my whispers have done some good after all." Raven gives Discord a smug expression, as if sharing a secret between the two. "Well, must be off, have some destruction to create"

A small vortex forms in front of him and he hops in. I barely manage to jump in behind him before the portal closes.

Using part of my skills, I note that this is actually the day before. Two ponies, one white and one dark purple, seem to be very startled at the appearance of this single stallion. So that's how Luna and Celestia looked before ruling Equestria. So much more carefree and unburdened by the future that awaits them. "Celestia and Luna, may I be ever blessed by your good graces." Raven gives the princesses a bow full of mock formality.

Luna was not impressed. "You dare mock us?" she shouts. A bolt of energy shoots from her horn. Raven laughs and teleports right behind the future princesses.

"Tsk, tsk. such bad manners towards someone who is trying to help you." Raven seems unphased by the attack. Celestia seems to maintain composure and addresses Raven.

"What is it that you wish to help us with?"

"It's quite simple, really. I know you're trying to dethrone Discord, and it suits my plans to help you. I am going to show you relic of great power which will help you on your way. The first of which is conveniently located here at your home. However, there is a catch. In order to wield the Elements of Harmony, one of you must leave and not be a part of this."

Luna looks as if she's about to accept when Celestia puts a hoof in front of her "Never! We will find our own way to defeat Discord if that is the price for your 'Elements'!"

Raven just laughs "Celestia, because you refused to abandon your sister, this is yours." An orb appears in front of Celestia. "Congratulations, you have just discovered the Element of Loyalty." He pauses, as if remembering something, "Another hindrance is that finding these things means that you must wait one day before gaining a new Element." Raven summons another portal and hops through it, shouting "See you tomorrow!"

We appear the next day in the same spot.The princesses are already waiting, "Today you must got a few miles out from your home to seek the next Element. I will be waiting for you there." His teleport spell is faster than usual, so I had no choice but to follow the princesses. Luna took advantage of the trip to talk to Celestia.

"I do not trust this Raven, he has already proven to be a liar and has shown disrespect for us, even if he is helping us gain the Elements. We should be wary incase he turns into a traitor."

"Luna my sister, his lies were but a test. But you do have a point about the lack of respect, but be quiet now, here he is." I had been listening to their conversation and not noticed that Raven was waiting for them.

"Princesses, here is the next Element!" Raven announces with much grandeur.  The empty plain seems to have no markings to denote the fact that there is an Element. "Now you must pass my next test, or the Elements will never be yours." A thin field of magic surrounds the area nearest to Raven. An Ursa Major appears in the field and Raven raises his cane. "Welcome to the show, and I do sincerely wish that you beat him, but be wary of my trick." He says this last bit with a smirk and disappears using the magic of his cane.

The Ursa Major flies into a blind rage, attempting to smash both the Princesses. Celestia tries to counterattack with a magical blast, but it dissipates against a bubble, the energy dispersing itself across the whole shield. Luna tries an attack from the back, and makes contact, only at her dismay to find that an iron chain has appeared around his neck where she was striking. Suddenly, a pop and then a cloud of red dust appears to herald the arrival of Professor Raven. He has a mug in his hand and is cheering loudly for what he has termed "his Ursa". Celestia has maintained her barrage of magic, all dispersing harmlessly. Then, the Ursa's fist starts to glow the same color as Celestia's magic and it lunges at Celestia. She barely manages to dodge it, but it leaves a large crater where Celestia had been standing. Luna manages to free the chain from the Ursa, causing it to disappear.

Raven stumbles up to the two and manages to pull some of his usual cool composure together, "Congradulashuns, Luna. Here's the Element of Kindness. Noticing the enchanted iron chain was a good call. But Celestia, really? Blasting a poor Ursa with solar heat nonstop is just cruel." The next orb appears and floats near Luna before winking out of existence. "Relax about the orbs disappearance, I'm just keeping them safe, because they are very heavy and it would be a pain to carry them the entire time."

"But why are you putting all these tests in front of us?" Luna seems wary of the whole situation.

"Multiple reasons; a, it's kind of fun at my age and two, no, b: the Elements chose their wielders and you must prove to have the Element's characteristic. The next one will take a long journey for you to get to, seeing as how you can't teleport all the way there due to the spells I placed on the region. I would suggest you get going before it's too late. The directions are to go to the eastern mountain range. Next find the rocky outcropping that I am waiting on."

With that, both of us teleport to an outcropping on a mountain range. I know he threw us forward in time, seeing as how neither of us has patience for waiting that long for the princesses. Eventually, the princesses arrive on the outcropping. Raven raises his cane in a very theatric style and announces, "Welcome to the beginning of the hard part, princesses!"

For the first time, I notice that behind the white coat, a new cutie mark has taken form. This one has a shattered hourglass instead of mine, which is a lighting bolt inside an hourglass. Raven, what have you become? I say out loud.